Combined push button and light signal for electrical switches



Jan. 7, 1964 M. BALDASARE 3,117,207

COMBINED PUSH BUTTON AND LIGHT SIGNALv FOR"` ELECTRICAL SWITCHES ATTURNEY.'

Jan. 7, 1964 M. BALDASARE 3,117,207

COMBINED PUSH BUTTON AND LIGHT SIGNAL FOR ELCTRICAL SWITCHES Filed Nov. 29. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TRNEY.

United States Patent O M 3,117,207 COMBINED PUSH BUTTON AND LIGHT SIGNAL FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Michael Baldasare, 154 South St., Danbury, Conn. Filed Nov. 2.9, 1960,` Ser. No. 72,516 s-claims. (ci. 20o-167) The present invention relates to a combined push button and light signal particularly for use in a multiple electrical switch, of the type adapted for use in various machines and industrial equipment for electrically controlling through relays a plurality of operations. Such switches have a plurality .of circuit-controlling push keys and include interlock means to prevent simultaneous operation of two or more push keys and release means through which any operated push key is released by operation of any oneof the other push keys.

It is an object of theinvention to provide an improved push button including a linger engaging operating body part and a light transmitting screen extension part disposed in vertically opposed relation to a pilot lamp whereby the illumination is conned to the screenextension part with a sharp line of demarcation between it and the operating body part. A further object is to provide improved push buttons comprising detachable and interchangeable illuminating parts which may be provided in various colors and carry various legends, so that the several push buttons of the multiple switch may be selectively designated by distinguishing colors and legends to clearly indicate their specific functions.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration -of vthe following detailed description taken in connection withfthe accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a multiple electrical switch embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation as seen from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional View takenk along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 yis a vertical sectional'view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 Vis a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 6 and showing one of the push keys in its depressed locked position;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of vpush button according to the invention;

FIG. 9 Vis a sectional view takenalong the line 9v-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectionalview similar to FIG. 9 and showing a modification ,of the button as .illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. ll is a plan view of a modified button having two screen extension parts for simultaneous illumination by a pair of lamps;

FIG. l2 is a sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 1l;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view partially in end elevation of a modied form of-multiple switch provided with the push buttons as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12; and

FIG. 14 is-a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 and 3,117,297 Patented Jan. 7, 1964 showing a modification of the form of button as shown in FIGS. 1l and 12.

Referring to the drawings the multiple electrical switch for use with the invention comprises a horizontal top strip 10 of Bakelite or other suitable dielectric material provided longitudinally along its rearward portion with a series of circular openings 11 for receiving the individual push keys, as will presently more fully appear. The longitudinal forward portion 12 of the top strip is stepped upwardly from the rearward portion and within its upwardly offset upper side there is provided a series of transverse pockets 13 transversely aligned with the openings 11, each having a vertical opening 14 for receiving a pilot lamp assembly 15, comprising a flanged socket 16 seated in the pocket 13 and extended downwardly in the opening V14 where it is secured by a `set ,screw 17. The socket is provided with a pair of opposed contact and lwire connecting members 1S and a lamp unit 19 is frictionally retained therein by a pair of springy retaining and current conducting members 20 frictionally engaged with the contact members 18. The pilot lamp assembly is of conventional type and further description is not deemed necessary. Obviously other suitable known types may be employed.

At each end of the top strip there is provided a screw 21 having its head engaged with the upper side of the strip and secured by a nut 22 disposed in a cut-out 23 at the under side of the strip. A longitudinal bearing bar 24 having avdownwardly extending flange 25 at its forward side is engaged with the under side of the top strip 10 land is provided at its ends with holes 2,6-26 through `which the screws 21 are engaged, ytubular interior-ly threaded vertical posts 27-27 being respectively screwed upon the screws 21 at each end to secure the vbearing bar to the top strip. The bearing bar is provided centrally within each ofthe circular openings of the top strip with a square hole 28 to provide bearing passages for the push keys, as will presently more fully appear. L-shaped bridge pieces 29 are secured at each end of the top strip by screws 30 and are provided with vertically extending threaded holes 31 for the purpose of receiving mounting screws to secure the switch in the machine or other equipment to be electrically controlled.

The frame of the switch Ais completed by superimposed horizontal kbottom strips 32 and 33, connected to the lower ends of the posts 27 by screws 34-34 engaged through registering holes 35 and 36 in the respective strips and screwed into the lower ends of the interiorly threaded posts.

Eachpush key unit comprises a Vertical stem 37 of square Cross-section, for free sliding engagement in the square bearing hole 28 Vof the bearing bar 24, having a push button mounting stud extension 38 at its upper end and a guideextension 39 at its lower end for s ldiing engagement in the respective bearing guide hole 40 of a series of such holes in the upper side of the bottom strip V32 in vertical alignment with the bearing holes 28. A contact operating cam member 41, preferably `of plastic material, isl molded about the lower portion of the push key stem 37. A rubber cushion washer 42 engagedabout the stem upon the upper side of the cam member 41 is normally engaged with the under side of the bearing bar 24 under the pressure of a helical expansion spring .43 provided upon the guide extension 39 between the under side of the cam member and the upper side of the bottom strip'32 to normally retain the push key in its upper inoperative position. The Contact operating cam member 41 isof inverted T-shapeas clearly seen in FIG. 5, and is provided at the front and rear sides of its lower portion with .downwardly convergent inclined surfaces 44 and 45, the yforward surface 44 providing a contact operating cam surface, and the upper edge of the rearward surface d providing a straight line bearing surface parallel to the forward side of the square cross-section stern 37 for engagement by an upwardly extending leaf spring 46 secured to the rearward side of the bottom strip 33 by screws 47. Thus the stem 37 of the push key is at all times pressed against the forward surface of the square bearing hole 2:3 in the bearing bar 24- to maintain the push key in a relatively fixed non-rotative position in both its raised and depressed positions as well as during movement between these positions.

At its rearward side the cam member il is provided with a release notch 48 having an upwardly and outwardly inclined cam surface 49 at its upper side, and with a locking notch 50 in upwardly spaced relation to the release notch d8. ln the raised position of the push keys as seen in FIG. 6 the release notches d of the several push keys are engaged by the forwardly extending lip Si at the lower edge of a lock bar 52 common to the several push keys. The lock bar is hingedly mounted at its upper edge by means of apertured ears 53-53 at its ends engaged by hinge pins ddl-Sd carried in mounting blocks 55-55 secured by screws 56 to the under side of the bearing bar 2d. The lock bar is normally pulled forwardly into the release notches by a spring 57 tied between a hook formation 5d provided in the flange ZS of the bearing bar 24 and the lip 51 of the lock bar.

In the normal raised position of the push key, as seen in FIG. 6, the lip 5l of the lock 'oar engages in the notch 4S just below the cam surface 49. Upon depression of the push key the cam surface 49 immediately presses the lock bar outwardly and as depression of the push key is continued the lip 5l of the lock bar is drawn into the locking notch 50, as seen in FIG. 7, to retain the push key in its depressed position. inasmuch as the lip 5l of the lock bar re-engages the release notches i8 of the other push keys when one of them is depressed to the locked position, as seen in FIG. 7, the partial or full depression of any one of these other push keys will cause the lock bar to be moved out of the releasing notches 4S through engagement by the cam surface 49 and also out of the locking notch 5d of the previously-operated locked push key which is thereby released and moves to its normal raised position under the pressure of its spring 43.

Upon the opposite side of the bottom strip 33 from the leaf springs de there is provided a series of contact units 59 in association with the series of push keys. Each contact unit is in the form of a pile or stack assembly consisting of leaf contact springs 6d interleaved with insulation separators 6l, and secured to the strip member 33 by a pair of screws 62-62 engaged through insulating tubes 63 extending through holes in the springs and separators. The Contact leaf springs have terminal ends 64 which extend below the separators for the purpose of attaching conductor Wires. As shown the contact unit 59 has two contact groups, each comprising three leaf springs, the intermediate spring being movable between two positions, in one of which positions it makes contact with the spring at one side and in the other position makes contact with the spring at the other side. The intermediate springs are upwardly extended and have insulation pads 65-65 respectively secured thereto, one pad being disposed between and spanning the two intermediate leaf springs and the other being engaged with a double thickness actuator leaf spring e6 secured at its lower end between insulation separators in the stack and provided at its inner side with a cam projection 57. The cam projection is disposed in the path of the cam surface 4d of the contact operating member di, so that in the normal raised position of the push key, as seen in FlG. 6, the intermediate leaf spring members are in their inwardly moved position. in the fully depressed locked position, as seen in FIG. 7, the cam projection is engaged by the cam surface 41d to press the actuating spring 66 outwardly and thus press the intermediate leaf springs to their outwardly moved position.

It is pointed out that the arrangement, with the contact units 59 disposed in the relatively wide space at one side of the strip 33 beneath the pilot lamp assembly mounting, enables additional contact groups to be assembled with one or more of the contact units without requiring an increase in the width of the switch.

The interlock means to prevent operation of more than one push key at a time is provided in the bottom strip 32. In axial line with the series of guide holes 4t) there is provided a series of cylindrical pockets 68 opening to the bottom surface of the strip and longitudinally of the strip there is provided a slot 69 opening to its bottom surface and centrally intersecting the series of pockets 68. The pockets and slot are closed at their lower sides by the bottom strip 33. At the outer side of each end pocket 653 there is secured within the slot 69 by means of a set screw '70 a xed plate member 7l, the inner end surface of which projects within the pocket 68 and includes an upper inclined wall portion 72, an intermediate vertical wall portion 73, and a lower inwardly projecting stop lug portion '74. Between each of the pockets there is slidably disposed within the slot 6d a movable plate member 75 having end surfaces projecting into the adjacent pockets 68 and corresponding in shape to the inner end surfaces of the fixed plate members 7i. The combined length of the movable plate members 75 is less than the distance between the xed plate members '71 in an amount which allows sufficient separation of the opposed vertical end surfaces of 'the plates in only one of the pockets 68 to allow full entry of the guide stem 39 of a push key. As seen in FIG. 5 the plate members in the left hand pocket are so spaced, and through shifting of the movable plate members they become so spaced for any one of the other pockets when a guide stem is fully engaged in such pocket. Thus any one push key may be depressed to its locked position, but it is impossible to simultaneously depress more than one to locked position. When one of the push keys is depressed to its locked position, as seen in FIG. 7, depression of any of the other push keys causes the locking bar to be actuated to release it, and such release will take place either through full depression of each such other push key to locked position, or partial depression sumcient to actuate the locking bar to release position.

Upon the upper stud extension 3S of each of the push keys there is mounted a combined push button and light signal 76, one embodiment of which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 'and 9. This comprises a substantially cube shaped push button body 77, preferably molded of opaque plastic material, and provided with a central mounting hole 7S extending upwardly from its bottom surface for engagement by the stud extension 38, a countersunk set screw 79 being inserted from the rear surface and entering the hole 78 for locking engagement with a flat 80' provided upon the stud extension. A horizontal slot 31 extends inwardly from the forward surface in parallel spaced relation to the upper surface and receives the mounting flange S2 of a light transmitting screen extension 83 of the button which is disposed directly over the associated pilot lamp 19 and is provided with a pocket 84 in its under side in which the pilot lamp is received in the depressed locked position of the push key as shown in FIG. 7. The screen extension is preferably molded of translucent plastic material and the upper wall is sufficiently thin so that it is clearly illuminated when the pilot lamp is lighted through suitable circuit connections with the associated contact unit. By virtue of the opaqueness of the button part '76 there is a sharp line of demarcation between the illuminated screen extension and the button body without transmission or diffusion of light to the latter. Preferably the side surfaces of the screen extension `and the button body are flush and the upper surface of the lens extension is downwardly offset from the upper surface of the button body so that when operating the push key the finger of the operator will be free of Contact with the screen extension without obscuring its distinguishing color or any legend that may be carried thereby. The screen extension is secured to the button part by a pair of countersunk set screws 85-85 engaged upwardly through the bottom of the bottom body and entering the slot 31 to engage in depressions 86-36 in the ange 82 of the screen extension.

In FIG. l0 there is illustrated a modified combined push button and light signal 87 in which the button body 88 and the screen extension yS9 are integral and are molded from translucent plastic material. The body part is provided with a central mounting hole 93 and a retaining set screw 91, the upper end of the hole terminating in spaced relation to a downwardly offset upper surface 92 of the body portion upon which an opaque cap 93 is engaged and secured by a screw 94- engaged upwardly through a reduced diameter hole 95 at the upper end of the mounting hole 9th In some installations it is desirable to provide a pair of pilot lamps in association with each push key so as to insure a pilot light indication in the event of the burning out or failure of one pilot lamp. An arrangement of this type is illustrated in FIG. 13 where the top strip lila of the switch is extended to both sides of the push keys and is provided in upwardly stepped portions 12a-12a at its respective sides with a series of pockets 13a having circular openings 14a for receiving pilot lamp assemblies 15 at each side in substantially similar manner to the mounting of the pilot lamp assemblies in the first embodiment.

In this case the combined push button and light signal 96, shown in detail in FIGS. 11 and l2, comprises a cube shaped button body 97 molded of opaque plastic material and a pair of light transmitting screen extensions 9&-955 molded of translucent plastic material extended at opposite sides above the associated pilot lamps. The extensions are assembled with the button body in similar manner to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 by flanges 99 or" the screen extensions engaged in slots 19d in the opposed sides of the body part and secured by set screw 191. Also the button body is provided with a central mounting hole 102 and a retaining set screw-193.

In FIG, 14 there is shown a modified double screen extension push button 104 substantially similar to the modication of FIG. l0 except for the provision upon opposite sides of the button body 105 of screen extensions 13o-166.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined push button and light signal; for use in a multiple electrical switch including a horizontally disposed frame strip having a -iirst series of spaced longitudinally aligned vertically extending openings and a second series of `spaced longitudinally aligned vertically extending openings :transversely spaced from and aligned with said rst series of openings, a vertical push key stem mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement downwardly and upwardly in each of said first series of openings having an upper end portion projecting upwardly from said strip, and a pilot lamp assembly mounted in each of said second series of openings having a lamp unit projecting upward-ly from said strip and transversely aligned with a respective push key stem; said combined push button and light signal comprising a push button body part including means for mounting on the upper end portion of a push key stem out of vertically opposed relation to the respective lamp unit transversely aligned with said push key stem, and a light transmitting screen part carried by said body part extending horizontally from one side thereof and including a relatively thin substantially uniform thickness light transmitting horizontal top Wall for disposition in vertically opposed relation to said respective lamp unit, and downwardly extending side Walls dening with said top wall a downwardly facing pocket adapted for receiving said lamp unit upon downward movement of said body part relatively to said frame strip, one of said side walls being disposed transversely and defining the inner edge of said light transmitting top wall.

2. The invention as defined in olaim '1, further characterized in that said body part is of substantially rectangular block form defined by rectangular top, bottom and side walls, 4and having a vertical dimension substantially greater than the vertical cross sectional dimension of said top wall of said screen part, and wherein said side walls of said screen part terminate in a horizontal plane upwardly offset from said bottom wall of said push button body part.

3. lThe invention as defined in claim 1, fur-ther characterized in that said body part is opaque and said screen part is translucent and is removably secured to said body part.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said screen part is integral with said body part.

5. A combined push button and light signal; for use in a multiple electrical switch having a horizontally disposed frame strip having a irst series of spaced longitudinally aligned vertically extending openings and a second and a third series of spaced longitudinally aligned openings respectively transversely spaced from each side and aligned with said rst series of openings, a vertical push key stem mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement downlwardiy and upwardly in each of said first series of openings having an upper end portion projecting upwardly from said strip, and a pilot lamp assembly mounted in each of said second and third series of openings having a lamp unit projecting upwardly from said strip and transversely aligned with a respective push key stem; said combined push button and light signal comprising a push button body part including means for mounting on the upper end portion of a push key stem out of vertically opposed relation to the respective lamp units transversely aligned with said push key stem, and light transmitting screen parts carried by said body part extending horizontally from opposite sides thereof and each including a relatively thin substantially uniform thickness light transmitting horizontal top wall for disposition in vertically opposed relation to a respective .lamp unit, and downwardly extending side walls defining with said top wall a downwardly facing pocket adapted for receiving said lamp unit upon downward movement of said body part relatively to said frame strip, one of said side walls being disposed transversely and defining the inner edge of said light transmitting top wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 931,202 Holland Aug. 17, 1909 2,265,124 Andres Dec. 9, 1941 2,819,356 Hutt Jan. 7, 1950 2,863,028 Fraser et al DCC. 2, 1958 2,904,662 Spring Sept. 15, 1959 2,905,773 Guillemant Sept. 2.2, 1959 2,924,692 Campe et al Feb. 9, 1960 2,964,986 Johnson Dec. 20, 1960 

1. A COMBINED PUSH BUTTON AND LIGHT SIGNAL; FOR USE IN A MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SWITCH INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FRAME STRIP HAVING A FIRST SERIES OF SPACED LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPENINGS AND A SECOND SERIES OF SPACED LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPENINGS TRANSVERSELY SPACED FROM AND ALIGNED WITH SAID FIRST SERIES OF OPENINGS, A VERTICAL PUSH KEY STEM MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT DOWNWARDLY AND UPWARDLY IN EACH OF SAID FIRST SERIES OF OPENINGS HAVING AN UPER END PORTION PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID STRIP, AND A PILOT LAMP ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID SECOND SERIES OF OPENINGS HAVING A LAMP UNIT PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID STRIP AND TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED WITH A RESPECTIVE PUSH KEY STEM; SAID COMBINED PUSH BUTTON AND LIGHT SIGNAL COMPRISING A PUSH BUTTON BODY PART INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOUNTING ON THE UPPER END PORTION OF A PUSH KEY STEM OUT OF VERTICALLY OPPOSED RELATION TO THE RESPECTIVE LAMP UNIT TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED WITH SAID PUSH KEY STEM, AND A LIGHT TRANSMITTING SCREEN PART CARRIED BY SAID BODY PART EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF AND INCLUDING A RELATIVELY THIN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS LIGHT TRANSMITTING HORIZONTAL TOP WALL FOR DISPOSITION IN VERTICALLY OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID RESPECTIVE LAMP UNIT, AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE WALLS DEFINING WITH SAID TOP WALL A DOWNWARDLY FACING POCKET ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING SAID LAMP UNIT UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY PART RELATIVELY TO SAID FRAME STRIP, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY AND DEFINING THE INNER EDGE OF SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING TOP WALL. 